Research from the Luminescent Sensors and Molecular Logic Gates Laboratory in the Department of Chemistry within the Faculty of Science has been published in 'Chemical Communications'. The acceptance criteria are originality, urgency and significant general interest to warrant rapid publication. The publication is a culmination of research by University of Malta postgraduate M.Sc. students, Glenn Scerri, Jake Spiteri and Carl Mallia under the supervision of Prof. David C. Magri.
The study reports a purposely designed and engineered molecule that functions as a ‘lab-on-a-molecule’ for the optical detection of three biologically relevant chemical species, iron (Fe3+), acidity (H+) and sodium (Na+). The molecule communicates the presence of high threshold concentrations of these three analytes in solution by emitting a bright green fluorescent light. In the absence of one, two or all three analytes, however, no green light is observed. Smart molecules that can detect for three or more analytes at once could someday assist doctors and clinicians with blood analysis and disease diagnosis.
The graphical abstract and link to the website can be found .
The graphical abstract and link to the website can be found .
The research was financially supported by the University of Malta, the ENDEAVOUR Scholarships Scheme operating under European Union Operational Programme II and the Ministry of Education and Employment.
